Grandmasters of Geopolitics Chat

Hosea announces the punishment of Israel 1 People of Israel, stop celebrating festivals with other peoples! You have distanced yourself from your God and have been unfaithful to him. Throughout the land you have prostituted yourself to the god Baal. You thought that grain was the reward he gave you, and you accepted it. 2 But grain and oil will not feed you, and you will lack new wine. 3 The people of Israel will not remain in the land of the Lord; they will return to Egypt and be deported to Assyria, where they will eat unclean foods. 4 They will no longer offer wine offerings to the Lord. He will not accept their sacrifices. Their bread will defile anyone who eats it, like the bread eaten in the house of the dead. They may indeed eat all their bread, for it will not enter the temple of the Lord. 5 What will they do on the day of the feast dedicated to the Lord? 6 They will escape the devastation and take refuge in Egypt, but the city of Memphis will be their tomb. Their silver treasures and their homes will be overgrown with nettles and brambles. 7 The time of punishment has come. On that day the people will get what they deserve; you will know it, O Israel. You say, 'This prophet is a madman; the inspired man is delirious.' You despise him because your sin is too great, your hatred for him too violent. 8 The Lord sent the prophet to warn the people of Israel. But wherever he goes, a trap is set to capture him. Even in the Lord's land, the people are enemies of the prophet. 9 They are now completely corrupt, as they were in Gibeah. But God will remember their sin and punish them. The sins of Israel and their consequences 10 The Lord says: 'When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert. I respected your ancestors as if they were the first figs of the season. But as soon as they reached the foot of Mount Baal-Peor, they began to worship the god Baal and immediately became as disgusting as the idols they worshiped. 11 The greatness of Israel will fly away like a bird. There will be no more newborns, no more women pregnant, no more children conceived. 12 But even if they raise children, I will eliminate them all. If I abandon this people, terrible things will happen. 13I see their children chased across the plain; the people themselves will send them to the slaughter.' 14 Lord, give them...! But what will you give? Make their women barren! Make them unable to feed their children! God's Verdict on Israel 15 The Lord says: 'All their sins began in Gilgal. There, I began to hate them. But because of their wickedness, I will drive them out of my land; I will no longer love them. All their leaders have rebelled against me. 16 Israel has been struck down. They are like a plant with dry roots, and therefore they bear no fruit. They will no longer have children, but even if they do, I will destroy those children.' 17 The God I serve will reject his people, because they have not listened to him. They will wander among the nations.